Bucket List: The Orlando Towers

“It ain’t about how hard you can hit. Its about how hard you can get hit, and how much you can take, and keep moving forward.”

— Rocky Balboa

Welcome back to the Bucket List section of our blog, where we are constantly detailing some of the coolest adventures, places and epic things to do as we come across them. Today, we have the Soweto Bungee Jump Experience between two de-commissioned cooling towers in Soweto, South Africa. Soweto is a township just outside of South Africa and needless to say, this experience at the Orlando Towers is totally bucket-list worthy.

Watch the video down below FIRST, and then we’ll dive in.

The Orlando Power Station was a ghastly sight among the town of Soweto for years. Soweto, an area mostly filled with one-story homes was dominated by the two cooling towers for its nearby power station and was de-commissioned a few years ago in 1998 after being built in 1951 as coal-burning facility to help give the town and surround area power

Now, obviously, it has turned into a world-renowned bungee jumping destination with colorful imagery, awesome graffiti and a slew of good vibes, beer and food down below.

Operated by the company Skyflerys, thrill-seekers board a rickety elevator up the structure, walk across the narrow bridge and take in sweeping views of Johannesburg before jumping 33 stories into the gap between the towers.

The jump itself is a 100 meter bungee jump (about 330 feet) and the backdrop of the two cooling towers provides vivid scenery and is the largest mural painting in South Africa. The bungee jump has been in operation since 2009.

Watch what it’s like from another point of view.

AND THAT’S NOT ALL

Now, bungee jumping isn’t the only adrenaline activity you can do at the Orlando Towers. From the top of the tower, you can power swing, rap jump, and abseil, but one of the wildest experiences is definitely the SCAD freefall, which occurs within the tower.

SCAD stands for ‘Suspended catch air device’ and it happens without any attachments. The participant gets into a cage, is raised up by a winch to 230 feet (70 meters), and then dropped from the platform onto a net HUNDREDS OF FEET BELOW with no feeling of impact at all.

So, if you’ve ever wanted to jump off a building with no adverse consequences….here’s your chance.

Watch the video of the SCAD freefall down below.

Things to note for the SCAD Freefall

• WE DO NOT TAKE ANY BOOKINGS, we work on a First come first served basis

• Discounts for groups of 6 or more @ R360.00 p/p

• Pay for your activity voucher online. Valid for 365 days from date of issue

• Weight Limits: 35kg to 110kg.

• Under 18’s must have signed parent/guardian consent

• No children under the age of 12 allowed to go up to the top of the tower

• Discounts for groups of 6 or more.

• Team-builds or Groups of 20+ contact info@sowetotowers.co.za.

• The SCAD freefall is about 400 ZAR or about $30 USD

Things to note for the Bungee Jump

• The Orlando Towers are open year round, but the activities are subject to weather — specifically wind.

• Bungee jumpers must weigh between 35 kilograms and 115 kilograms (77 and 253 pounds, respectively).

• If you’re under 18, you need parental consent.

• The towers are open Thursday-Sunday, and each event has a different fee.

• There’s a restaurant and beer garden at the base of the towers.

• If it’s too windy to do the bungee jump, the SCAD freefall is a great alternative.

• You can get professional pictures and videos taken for a nominal fee. 

• The bungee jump is only 550 ZAR, or about $40 US. The SCAD freefall is about 400 ZAR or about $30 USD

Bungee jump at the Orlando Towers in Soweto, SA

So, yes……this looks awesome and it is surely a destination to visit EVEN if these adrenaline activities aren’t your thing. On their website, they also list other activities being available such as a, “Straight Jacket” bungee jump, BASE jumping (if you have your own gear) and paintball.

All in all, the Orlando Towers in Soweto, South Africa definitely look like a place to go grab some food, a few beers, and talk your friends into doing one of these crazy activities. Not to mention the prices are extremely fair for any sort of traveler.

Let me know what else is on your bucket list, and leave a comment down below and let me know what you think!

~ Cam OUT!

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BASE jumping at the Orlando Towers

Wanna go?

Contact

Phone: +27 (071) 674 4343

info@sowetotowers.co.za

Address:

Cnr Sheffield Road and Chris Hani
Orlando East, Soweto
Johannesburg, South Africa

Visit their website here

Weekdays

Thursday 12 PM - SUNSET

Friday 10 AM - SUNSET

Weekends & Public holidays

10 AM - SUNSET